2014 Ducati 1199 Superleggera | Over 200HP, 342 LBS.

2014 Ducati 1199 Superleggera Preview, Photos, Specs

Following a few weeks of teasing “Project 1201” on its YouTube Channel, Ducati has unveiled the motorcycle that will rival the exclusivity of the Desmosedici RR – the 1199 Superleggera.

The 1199 Superleggera is exactly what its name translates to in English – Super Light. The Italian motorcycle manufacturer continued its performance recipe of lightweight and more power, and designed a machine that creates over 200 horsepower and has a claimed dry weight of just 341.7 lbs. With 90-percent fuel and all liquids, the Superleggera weighs in at 390.2 lbs.

Yes, you read that correctly – 341.7 lbs. With these types of numbers, the 2014 Ducati 1199 Superleggera has the highest power-to-weight ratio of any production motorcycle.

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Ducati conquered this insane power-to-weight ratio by utilizing the innovations displayed in “Project 1201,” such as creating a motorcycle through the use of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber, magnesium and titanium.

Ducati will only churn out 500 of these from its Bologna factory. As for price, it has yet to be released, though the rumors state around $62,000. If so, the Superleggera will be cheaper than the Desomsedici RR, the production-legal MotoGP bike that cost $72,500 back in 2007 (1,500 built).

To create the Superleggera, Ducati began with its 1199 Panigale R, a $30,000 motorcycle we tested at the Circuit of the Americas this past April.

Ducati further shaved weight from the 367-lbs. 1199 Panigale R by incorporating a magnesium monocoque frame, forged magnesium wheels, a carbon-fiber rear subframe, carbon-fiber bodywork, a full titanium exhaust with stainless-steel headers, and a lithium-ion battery (LIB). Besides these parts, to save further weight Ducati added many titanium bolts and fasteners.

This Superquadro features something never done before on a Ducati engine; it contains two-ring pistons. Speaking of the two-ring pistons, Ducati says “these pistons, usually found on racing Superbikes, use short skirts and only two rings (compression and oil), allowing them to dramatically reduce mass and friction. To further increase performance, the combustion chamber is also modified to Superbike specs by a new piston crown that increases compression ratio. Added to this is a super-lightened crankshaft, precision balanced using dense tungsten inserts.”

2014 Ducati 1199 Superleggera

With these enhancements, the 1199 Superleggera produces more than 200 horsepower. To tame this type of power, Ducati incorporated a host of electronics, including Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and Engine Brake Control (EBC). These systems are optimized “with new automatic calibration of rear-tire size and final transmission ratio.” Ducati also added a race-derived, handlebar mount to easily adjust the levels of these systems on the track.

The 1199 Superleggera also features Ducati Data Analysis+ (DDA+) system, which adds an additional sensor and software channel to record and display vehicle lean angles.

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